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Technological innovation is on the rise and today’s world looks very different to most people than it did ten years ago. With most having access to previously cutting-edge technology such as smartphones and tablets and new breakthroughs in blockchain and AI technology, the difference is noticeable; and will likely continue to do so as these innovations are widely adopted.
As an educator, you have probably noticed some changes in your daily activities. With cutting-edge educational technology, back-office software that eliminates manual record-keeping, and automation you can use to connect with students and parents, you’ll experience an unprecedented amount of technology support. You’ve probably faced this too adapt and learn new systems.
A STEM education will prepare your students to face this brave new world and train them in the skills they will need to work with these systems. Adapting the curriculum to align students with the new market will help them choose jobs where they will thrive and teach them the skills needed to solve problems in the future.
Artificial intelligence based career guidance
First, it is important to understand that as the labor market changes, so will the types of jobs that are available and have longevity. In particular, AI technology is responsible for shaping some of these changes as it provides automated support to a range of career paths, rendering some positions obsolete.
However, artificial intelligence cannot replace the human element, and there are a number of them career paths that cannot be made obsolete; career paths that even benefit from the active use of AI in everyday life. This is because AI is fundamentally designed to support roles, not replace them. These career paths include:
Mechanics;
Electricians;
Professional instructors;
Health professionals, including psychology/psychiatry;
Maintenance and repair technicians;
When creating a curriculum that prepares your students to enter the marketplace, focus on helping them develop skills that AI cannot replicate: critical thinking, complex problem solving, and emotional intelligence. You can also teach them, if they are set on a particular career path, how AI will impact that career path and how they can use it to support them in their future role.
Allowing them to experiment with publicly available models like LLMs during this process, as you teach them how to create challenges and show them what kinds of responses to expect, can help set expectations for future use—while training them in valuable skills.
Use of grants and other resources
If your school doesn’t have the resources to start STEM programs, you can also look into more and more large amount of subsidies which are available.
STEM programs are valuable for two reasons: first, they train your students in marketable skills like robotics or software design, and second, participants in such programs often receive scholarships. STEM programs also allow students to explore many high-demand careers in the tech industry, allowing them to explore how their interests and market needs align before entering the real world.
It’s also important to note that while there are plenty of private businesses extending generosity to schools in the form of grants, recent federal initiatives may also unlock STEM programs for institutions across the country. Tea You belong in STEM the initiative has allocated millions of dollars to institutions for STEM programs, provided brand new grants, and aims to do more to advance STEM education across the country.
Preparing students to solve future challenges
Finally, we address our last question: how can you prepare your students to solve the problems we face now and in the future?
Awareness of these complex issues begins at school. You have a unique opportunity to get students to think critically about a range of significant challenges that they can implement. Some of these challenges are:
The role of virtual reality in everyday life;
Use of clean energy for environmentally conscious technologies;
The development of online communities and the challenges of socialization;
Availability of state-of-the-art technology across demographics;
IoT and the evolving purposes of wearables;
Obstacles to the introduction of optical Internet.
Holding classroom discussion groups focused on news articles, thought leadership, and recent world events can encourage interest and meditation on these topics. For example, talk to your students about food insecurity and the technologies currently being used to address the problem, their pros and cons. While you’re unlikely to come up with a world-changing answer in class, students will take these discussions with them from the class and to the market.
STEM is the future for our children, especially as technological innovations like artificial intelligence expand into all occupations and roles. We hope this brief introduction gives you the information you need to tailor your curriculum and give your students the tools they need to succeed.
Author: Katie Brenneman.
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